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Home / Equine Research Bank / Toxins (Basel) / Using On-Farm Monitoring of Ergovaline and Tall Fescue Compo...
Toxins2021; 13(10); doi: 10.3390/toxins13100683

Using On-Farm Monitoring of Ergovaline and Tall Fescue Composition for Horse Pasture Management.

Abstract: Central Kentucky horse pastures contain significant populations of tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinacea (Schreb.) Dumort) infected with an endophyte (Epichloë coenophialum (Morgan-Jones and Gams) Bacon and Schardl) known to produce several ergot alkaloids, with ergovaline in the highest concentration. While most classes of horses are not adversely affected by average levels of ergovaline in pastures, late term pregnant mares have a low tolerance to ergovaline and the related ergot alkaloids. Endophyte-infected tall fescue has been known to cause prolonged gestation, thickened placenta, dystocia, agalactia, and foal and mare mortality. The University of Kentucky Horse Pasture Evaluation Program utilizes ergovaline and endophyte testing, as well as pasture species composition, to calculate ergovaline in the total diet in broodmare pastures. This data is used to develop detailed management recommendations for individual pastures. Application of these recommendations has led to reduced tall fescue toxicity symptoms on these farms, as well as improved pasture management and improved forage quality and quantity.
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Publication Date: 2021-09-25 PubMed ID: 34678976PubMed Central: PMC8537976DOI: 10.3390/toxins13100683Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research focuses on managing tall fescue grass in Central Kentucky horse pastures to ensure the safety of pregnant mares. It uses on-farm monitoring of ergovaline, a toxin found in tall fescue, to tailoring pasture management practices, resulting in healthier horses and higher forage quality.

Concern with Tall Fescue and Ergovaline

  • The study targets horse pastures in Central Kentucky, where tall fescue grass population is prevalent. This grass often hosts an endophyte fungus that produces several types of toxins, including ergot alkaloids, with ergovaline being the most abundant.
  • Whilst many horses are unaffected by the average ergovaline levels in pastures, the toxin greatly impacts late-term pregnant mares. Exposure to endophyte-infected tall fescue can lead to various health issues including prolonged gestation, thickened placenta, abnormal labor (dystocia),( lack of milk agalactia), and even death in foals and mares.

Horse Pasture Evaluation Program Approach

  • The University of Kentucky Horse Pasture Evaluation Program has developed a solution to this problem. It employs monitoring of ergovaline and endophyte levels along with a study of pasture species composition, to calculate the total ergovaline in diets of broodmare pastures.
  • This evaluation program provides valuable data that is utilized in the creation of personalized pasture management recommendations.

Results and Benefits of the Program

  • The implementation of these recommendations has resulted in evident improvement of horse health, especially reducing tall fescue toxicity symptoms in pregnant mares.
  • Additionally, the program has shown to further improve pasture management practices overall, which not only benefits the horses, but also increases forage quality and quantity.

Cite This Article

APA
Lea KM, Smith SR. (2021). Using On-Farm Monitoring of Ergovaline and Tall Fescue Composition for Horse Pasture Management. Toxins (Basel), 13(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13100683

Publication

Toxins
ISSN: 2072-6651
NlmUniqueID: 101530765
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 10

Researcher Affiliations

Lea, Krista La Moen
  • Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, N-222C Ag. Science Center North, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
Smith, S Ray
  • Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, N-222C Ag. Science Center North, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animal Husbandry / methods
  • Animals
  • Endophytes
  • Epichloe / isolation & purification
  • Ergotamines / analysis
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
  • Horses
  • Kentucky
  • Mycoses / prevention & control
  • Mycoses / veterinary
  • Poaceae / microbiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / prevention & control
  • Pregnancy Complications / veterinary

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Talamantes DR, Phillips C, Young C, Wallace JG. The relationships among alkaloid concentration, endophyte mycelial concentration and host genetics in the tall fescue Epichloë symbiosis. BMC Genomics 2025 Dec 12;27(1):53.
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  2. Cherewyk JE, Blakley BR, Al-Dissi AN. The C-8-S-isomers of ergot alkaloids - a review of biological and analytical aspects. Mycotoxin Res 2024 Feb;40(1):1-17.
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  3. Klotz JL. Global Impact of Ergot Alkaloids. Toxins (Basel) 2022 Mar 3;14(3).
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